Dahlia plant named ‘KLEDH20121’

ABSTRACT

A new  Dahlia  plant designated ‘KLEDH20121’ particularly distinguished by orange-red flower color and a medium earliness, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Dahlia sp.

Variety denomination: ‘KLEDH20121’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT ‘KLEDH20121’

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of Dahlia, botanically known as Dahlia sp., and hereinafter referred to by the variety name ‘KLEDH20121’. ‘KLEDH20121’ originated from a controlled cross conducted in September 2014 in Stuttgart, Germany, between the proprietary female Dahlia ‘DH-2013-0298’ (not patented) and the proprietary male Dahlia ‘DH-2012-0196’ (not patented).

In May 2015, a seedling was selected and named ‘KLEDH20121’. ‘KLEDH20121’ was first vegetatively propagated by vegetative cuttings in May 2015 in Stuttgart, Germany. ‘KLEDH20121’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF ‘KLEDH20121’

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of ‘KLEDH20121’ when grown under normal horticultural practices in Stuttgart, Germany.

-   -   1. Orange-red flower color; and     -   2. Medium earliness.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

This new Dahlia plant is illustrated by the accompanying photograph of the plant approximately four months old and grown in a greenhouse in Stuttgart, Germany. The photograph shows the whole plant, unless otherwise noted, including the inflorescences and foliage and buds and was taken in July 2020 in Stuttgart, Germany. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

DESCRIPTION OF ‘KLEDH20121’

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘KLEDH20121’. The data which define these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Latina, Italy. Data was collected on 15 week old plants potted at week five in May 2021 and grown in a plastic greenhouse. Color references are to The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London (R.H.S.), 5^(th) edition (2007).

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Asteraceae.         -   Botanical.—Dahlia sp.         -   Designation.—‘KLEDH20121’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘DH-2013-0298’ (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—‘DH-2012-0196’ (unpatented). -   Plant:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, and well branched.         -   Plant height.—27.0 cm.         -   Plant diameter or spread.—35.0 cm.         -   Propagation type.—Vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant.—3 to 4 weeks.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching and moderately dense.         -   Root description.—Fine and white. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—26.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.         -   Internode length.—6.0 cm.         -   Aspect.—Outwardly spreading.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 137C. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Leaves are opposite on the branches.         -   Length.—7.1 cm.         -   Width.—4.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Rhomboid.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Acute.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Venation pattern.—Dichotomous.         -   Venation color.—RHS 152A.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Weakly             rugose.         -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 139A. Lower surface: RHS             138B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS N137A. Lower surface: RHS             138B. -   Petioles:     -   -   Length.—1.8 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture (both surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 146B. Lower surface: RHS 146C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Appearance and arrangement.—Daisy-eyed double inflorescences             held above the foliage.         -   Fragrance.—Strong.         -   Time to flower.—About 75 days after potted a rooted cutting.         -   Post-production longevity.—Plants flower continuously from             spring through autumn. -   Inflorescence bud:     -   -   Height.—1.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Circular.         -   Color.—RHS 166B. -   Inflorescence size:     -   -   Diameter.—8.0 cm.         -   Depth (height).—3.5 cm.         -   Disc diameter.—1.9 cm.         -   Receptacle height.—0.5 cm.         -   Receptacle diameter.—0.8 cm.         -   Receptacle color.—RHS 138A. -   Ray florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—About 35.         -   Length.—3.1 cm.         -   Width.—2.0 cm.         -   Shape.—Oval.         -   Apex.—Truncate.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Aspect.—Semi-Upright.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Weakly             rugose.         -   Color.—Immature: Upper surface: RHS 43A. Lower surface: RHS             42B. Mature: Upper surface: RHS 34A. Lower surface: RHS 34B. -   Disc florets:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—30.         -   Length.—1.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.2 cm.         -   Shape.—Tubular.         -   Texture (both inner and outer surfaces).—Smooth.         -   Color.—Immature (both inner and outer surfaces): RHS 59A.             Mature (both inner and outer surfaces): RHS 46A. -   Phyllaries:     -   -   Quantity per inflorescence.—21.         -   Length.—1.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.7 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth. Lower surface: Smooth.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 165A. Lower surface: RHS 165A. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Length, terminal peduncle.—14.0 cm.         -   Length, axillary peduncle.—7.0 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Semi-upright.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Smooth.         -   Color.—RHS 148A. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—Present on both ray florets and disc florets.             Quantity per floret: 4. Filament length: 0.6 cm. Filament             color: RHS 1D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length:             0.3 cm. Anther color: RHS 15A. Pollen amount: Medium. Pollen             color: RHS 17B.         -   Gynoecium.—Present only on disc florets. Quantity per             floret: 1. Pistil length: 1.6 cm. Style length: 1.0 cm.             Style color: RHS 1C. Stigma shape: Lanceolate. Stigma color:             RHS 13A. Ovary color: RHS 1B. -   Fruit and seed set: No fruit or seed set observed. -   Disease and pest/insect resistance: No resistance is observed

COMPARISON OF ‘KLEDH20121’ WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘KLEDH20121’ is distinguished from the parents as described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Line Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘KLEDH20121’ ‘DH-2013-0298’ ‘DH-2012-0196’ Flower color Orange red Red Salmon

‘KLEDH20121’ can be compared to the commercial Dahlia variety ‘KLEDH18010’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 32,428). Differences between the varieties are described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘KLEDH20121’ ‘KLEDH18010’ Earliness Medium Early Late Flower color Orange red Red 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Dahlia plant designated ‘KLEDH20121’, as illustrated and described herein. 